Stack support for sheet feeders



Sept. 15, 1953 H. F. BRUNS 2,652,249

STACK SUPPORT FOR SHEET FEEDER-S Filed April 8. 1949 3mm- Herbert F Bra/25 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 15, 1953 2,652,249 STACK SUPPORT FOR SHEET FEEDERS Herbert F. Bruns, Chica assignments, to Ditt go, 111., assignor, by mesne o, Incorporated, Chicago,

Ill-.-, a corporation of West Virginia Application April 8, 1949, Serial No. 86,325 8 Claims. (01. 271--61) The present invention relates to a "supporting table or platform for a stack of paper sheets or the like and, more particularly, to new and improved, adjustable guides for the sides and rear end of the stack. The invention is particularly adapted for use with a sheet feeder of the type which successively removes the uppermost sheet from the stack and feeds the same forwardly into a sprinting press, duplicating machine, or other sheet handling or treating apparatus.

A. primary object of the invention is to combine with such a table or platform improved guides for the sides of the stack which are laterally adjustable to accommodate stacks of sheets of different width.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved tail guides for the stack of sheets which are longitudinally adjustable, from the rear toward the front of the platform, to accommodate stacks of sheets of different lengths.

Another object of the invention is to provide tail guides which. may be readily swung from an inoperative, upwardly and laterally disposed position, downwardly and inwardly to an operative position in engagement with therear end of the stack of sheets.

Another object "of the invention is to provide improved tail guide means mounted directly upon the side guide means, to the end that, when the side guides are laterally adjusted, the tail guides are moved simultaneously therewith.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide side and tail guides which may be readily adjusted at the rear end of the table or platform, access by the operator.

Another object is to provide side guides for a stack of sheets which are angular ly adjustable, so that the guides may be brought into registry with a stack of sheets having ang'u-larly disposed side edges.

Another important object is to provide a table or platform having a smooth continuous, planar upper stack-supporting surface characterized by the absence of grooves or slots in area occupied by the sheets.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment, shown for purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation and fragmentary section of a preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the feed table or platform;

which is the most convenient position for Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the table guiding and stabilizing devices;

Figure 4 is a section Figures 5 and 6 are diagrammatic side views, looking outwardly toward the inner face of one side guide, showing one tail guide in its operative and inoperative positions, respectively, and

Figure 7 is a side elevation of one of the slide blocks which support the side guide plates.

pleated or corrugated sleeve 15 of gas-imperviextending through aligned apertures (in the plate and :disk, with a nut 1.8 threaded thereon secures the parts together. 'Theother end of "the sleeve [5 is clamped against the bottom surface of :a wedge-shaped block H 9, by a :clamping .disk I20, secured to the block by suitable i'screws or the like.

The upper surface of the block 1:9 is rearwardly and downwardly inclined and supports the .central portion 2| of the feed table or platform 22, tapped holes 23 being provided in the under surface for the reception of screws extending upwardly through bores in the block 19.

As indicated in Figures 1 and -2, the undersurface of the table is recessed as at 4. 25, 26, and 21, to reduce its weight, and providing marginal reinforcing ribs 28, 29, 30, and 31, and longitudinal and transverse ribs 32 and 33. The undersurface of the transverse rib 33 is provided with a continuous groove 34, for thereception of a stabilizer shaft as hereinafter explained.

Secured to the side edges of the table, by screws 35 and 36, area pair of guiding plates, one of which is shown at 31. The plates each carry a pair of outwardly projecting pins 38 and 39, upon whichare journalled rollers 40 and M, disposed in vertical guide slots formed in the main side plates l0, one of which slots is shown for vertical movement by slots.

the roller and the The plates 31 have cut-out portions 43 along their forward, each space so journalled upon a downwardly facing edges and in, provided, a roller 44 is disposed, horizontal pin secured to the vertical edge of the cut-out and arranged to make rolling contact with the inner face of the adjacent main side plate 10.

A shaft 45, disposed 34, in the bottom of in the transverse groove the platform and journalled in bores in the plates 31, has a gear 46 on each end, Each gear meshes with a rack 41, secured,

by screws 48, to the outer face of the adjacent main side plate, and extending along one side of the guide slot upwardly and downwardly,

Hence, as the table is moved the gears 46 travel uniformly along the racks 41, and lateral tipping f the table is prevented.

Adjacent the rear end of the table or platform :22, in the upper surface thereof, there is an inverted T-shaped, undercut slot 50. Disposed within the slot are a pair of independent slide blocks 5| of complemental, inverted T-section,

with the upper ing slightly below face of the stem portion terminatthe upper surface of the table,

except at a central section 5 I which is flush with said upper surface. upwardly projecting,

which knurled washers interposed,

The blocks each carry an threaded stud 52, upon nuts 53 are threaded, with friction if desired. When the nuts are loosened, the blocks are slidable in the groove, but when tightened, the blocks are clamped in fixed position.

The stack side guides each comprises an upright plate 55, turned bottom having a laterally and outwardly flange 56, secured at its rear end to the associated raised central section 51 of the slide block 5i by a screw bore in the block. adjacent the upper 51 threaded into a tapped At its forward and rear ends, edge, each side guide has a laterally and outwardly turned apertured ear 5B and 59. Rods on their rear edges are the apertures in Each rod 60 a relatively thick head 63 ably embracing the 60 having knurled knobs 6| fast mounted for rotation in the ears 58 and 59.

carries a ta'l guide 62, comprising having a bore 64 slidrod 60, and a laterally extending arm 65, connected integrally at its outer end to a depending is adapted to be by a set screw head portion 63. The rear face 68 of each wing bore in the wing member 66. Each tail guide secured to the associated rod 56 61, extending through a tapped 66 is preferably,

though not necessarily, disposed on a plane normal to the axis of rod 60 and bore 64,

While the front face 69 is disposed on a plane inclined with respect thereto,

as illustrated in Figure l, on a vertical plane when in the normal, operative position, behind a the tail guide sheets on the table. As by rotation of shaft 60,

stack of is swung,

from the inwardly projecting, lower position shown in Figures 1 and 5, to projecting, inoperative position,

the upper, outwardly by movement in an inclined plane normal to the axis of the rod to the position 69 recedes from the stack, dotted lines in Figure 1 When moved in the oppoface shown in site direction, to the operative position, the front face 69 approaches the rear end of the stack, moves into contact therewith, and tends to align the rear ends 0 If guide slot f the sheets therein.

42, Figure 3, is not vertical, then having side edges disposed at other than right angles to the front and rear edges may be accommodated. The lateral position of each side guide relative to the table may also be adjusted by loosening the knurled nut 53 and sliding the supporting block 5| in the slot 50.

A flexible conduit leading from a controlled supply of fluid under pressure is adapted to be connected to the nipple H, to deliver air to the bellows Hi, to support the table or platform 22. suitable means may be provided in this air line for delivering controlled amounts of air to the bellows, to raise the table, as the sheets are removed from the top of the stack carried thereby. The above identified application shows one systern for controlling the delivery of air to the bellows, in accordance with the height of the stack of sheets on the table, to maintain the uppermost sheet in substantially constant, predetermined relation to an associated sheet feeder. The present invention contemplates the use of such a control or any equivalent arrangement.

A sheet feeder of any approved construction may be associated with the table, above the upper, forward end of the same, in the space ahead of the side guides.

The universality of adjustment of the side guides and of the tail guides are features of practical advantage, in the mechanism of the present invention. Also, the way in which the tail guides may be swung between operative and inoperative positions, by simpl turning the knobs 6| is of great advantage.

The invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings and described above, but includes all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

1. A stack supporting feed table for a duplicating machine or the like, comprising a plate in its upper surface adjacent the rear end thereof, a pair of blocks slidable in the slot, means for clamp-ing the blocks in adjusted position in having a transversely extending undercut slot the slot, and an upright, forwardly extending stack side guide plate secured to each of said blocks for angular adjustment with respect thereto independent of said last named means.

2. A stack supporting feed table for a duplicating machine or the like, comprising a plate having a transversely extending undercut slot in its upper surface adjacent the rear end thereof, a pair of blocks slidable in the slot, means for clamping the blocks in adjusted position in the slot, and an upright, forwardly extending stack side guide plate having a laterally turned bottom flange secured to each of said blocks for angular adjustment with respect thereto independent of said last named means.

3. A stack supporting feed table for a duplicating machine or the like comprising a plate supported in forwardly and upwardly inclined relation and having a transverse slot in its upper surface adjacent its rear edge, a pair of independent slide blocks in the slot, means for clamping said blocks in adjusted position in the slot, side guides projecting upwardly from the table and secured to said blocks for angular adjustment with respect thereto independent of said last named means, a shaft carried by each side guide for rotation on an inclined axis parallel to the plate, a tail guide secured to each shaft for longitudinal adjustment therealong and adapted to be swung from an upper, outwardly projecting, inoperative position, downwardly and inwardly to an operative position adjacent the inner surface of the associated side guide plate.

4. A stack supporting feed table for a duplicating machine or the like comprising a plate supported in forwardly and upwardly inclined relation and having a transverse slot in its upper surface adjacent its rear edge, a pair of independent slide blocks in the slot, side guides projecting upwardly from the table and secured to said blocks, a shaft carried by each side guide for rotation on an inclined axis parallel to the plate, a tail guide fixed to each shaft and adapted to be swung from an upper, outwardly projecting, inoperative position, downwardly and inwardly to an operative position adjacent the inner surface of the associated side guide plate, said tail guides each having a forward surface disposed in a vertical plane when in the operative position, whereby, as the tail guide is swung in an inclined plane, normal to its supporting shaft, to said operative position, said forward surface moves forwardly into engagement with the rear face of an associated stack.

5. A feed table in accordance with claim 1, in which each of said blocks is of inverted Tsection and in which the clamping means for the blocks comprise a thumb nut threaded on a stud projecting upwardly through the slot with the lower face of the nut overlying the adjacent plate surface.

6. A stack supporting feed table for a duplieating machine or the like comprising a plate supported in forwardly and upwardly inclined relation, a pair of side guides projecting upwardly from the table and secured thereto for lateral adjustment, a shaft carried by each side projecting, inoperative position, downwardly and inwardly to an operative position adjacent the inner surface of the associated side guide, said tail guides each having a forward surface disposed in a vertical plane when in the operative r as the tail guide is swung in an inclined plane, normal to its supporting shaft, to said operative position, said forward surface moves forwardly into engagement with the rear face of an associated stack.

7. In a stack supporting feed table for a duplicating machine or the like, having a plate supported in forwardly and upwardly inclined relation and a pair of side guides projecting upand adjustably secured to said plate, a tad guide pivotally mounted on each of said side guides and adapted to be swung from an upper, outwardly projecting, inoperative position, adjacent the inner surface of the associ ated side guide plate, said tail guides each having a forward surface disposed in a vertical plane when in the operative position, whereby, as the tail guide is swung in an inclined plane, normal to its supporting shaft, to said operative position, said forward surface moves forwardly into engagement with the rear face of an associated stack.

8. In a, stack supporting feed table for a duplicating machine or the like, having a plate supported in forwardly and upwardly inclined relation and a pair of side guides projecting upwardly from and adjustably secured to said plate, a tail guide pivotally mounted on each. of said side guides of the character described in claim 7, further characterized in that each tail guide is also secured to its associated side guide for longitudinal adjustment therealong.

position, whereby,

HERBERT F. BRUNS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

